There’s some quality racing to look forward to on Saturday and Newbury’s Premier Raceday fixture is certainly amongst it. The highlight of the day is undoubtedly the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes.
Taking place at 3.15, it’s always a form race to watch and has been won by some very smart horses over the years. Horses on the roll of honour include Excellent Art, Dark Angel and Ribchester.
We’ve provided analysis for the big race of the day and picked out some strong fancies on the very competitive supporting card.
3.15 - Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2, 6f)
A field of 10 has been declared for the main event and there are no fillies present, which leaves us with eight colts and two geldings to consider. There are some smart prospects in the field, a few of which remain unbeaten.
Richard Fahey’s runner Powerful Glory heads the market. This once-raced son of Cotai Glory could hardly have been more impressive when scoring by five-and-a-half lengths at Pontefract on debut. He was plenty keen enough and still saw out his race strongly, which certainly bodes well for his future prospects.
SHADOW OF LIGHT represents the Godolphin and Charlie Appleby combination and the son of Lope De Vega won his first two starts well, before losing his unbeaten record in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York when last seen.
He wasn’t beaten far back in second and he was narrowly ahead of Symbol Of Strength, who opposes once again here. It’s likely that there’s more to come from him and Appleby’s colt should be bang in the mix.
Hamad Al Jehani’s runner Defence Minister is two-from-two, but faces a steep step up in grade here. Wathnan Racing’s colt has done nothing wrong but others appeal more. Brian has a good record over 6f and wasn’t far away when third behind Symbol Of Strength in a Kempton Group 3. Perhaps a bit more exposed than most, he looks a little vulnerable.
Karl Burke is always dangerous when it comes to juvenile Group races, but his runner Andesite has plenty to prove after being well beaten at York last time out. Sarab Star was a narrow winner on debut and is probably best watched, but we should learn plenty about him here.
La Bellota and Star Anthem are two of the big outsiders, the former is still a maiden and the latter wasn’t beaten a million miles in the Coventry Stakes when last seen. Billboard Star makes the most appeal out of the lesser fancied runners as his second to Whistlejacket in the July Stakes is rock-solid form.
SELECTION: SHADOW OF LIGHT
NEXT BEST: BILLBOARD OF LIGHT
1.30 - World Trophy Stakes (Group 3, 5f)
RELIEF RALLY was a smart two-year-old and she won the Group 2 Lowther Stakes last term. She also bolted up in the Super Sprint over the minimum trip and was denied by the narrowest of margins in the Queen Mary.
Outstayed when fourth in a Group 3 Guineas trial here over 7f in April, she followed that up with a good second behind the very smart Elite Status in a Listed race over 6f. He went on to win a Group 3 next time, providing a significant boost to the form.
This looks like a good opportunity to return to winning ways and she’s unlikely to be far away.
Rod Millman’s Adaay In Devon also looks like a viable option, provided the ground doesn’t dry out too much. Consistent and talented, she runs her race whenever there's some ease in the ground.
SELECTION: RELIEF RALLY
NEXT BEST: ADAAY IN DEVIN
2.40 - Dubai Duty Free Handicap (1m2f)
This £75,000 event looks ferociously competitive and Ryan Moore has been booked to ride WHIP CRACKER for Richard Hughes. This son of Cracksman is lightly raced and managed to finish second in Listed company over 1m1f at Newmarket in April.
His form has been a little below-par since, but the handicapper is beginning to relent and the drop back to a mile didn’t suit when last seen. Now down to a mark of 99, he could run a huge race here and victory may well be on the cards.
Bolster wasn’t disgraced behind the St Leger winner when fourth in a Group 3 at the Curragh on his penultimate start. He also wasn’t suited by the drop in trip when last of seven in a Group 2 when last seen. 1m2f and the return to handicaps should facilitate a much better effort.
SELECTION: WHIP CRACKER
NEXT BEST: BOLSTER
